Safety concerns from school located near Vancouver's Downtown Eastside

Parents of students at a downtown Vancouver elementary school are voicing renewed frustration over what they describe as increasingly unsafe conditions around the school’s grounds. Reports of open drug use, weapons, and other hazardous activity near the school have led families to call for immediate intervention.

The open playground at Crosstown Elementary. Photo: Vancouver Playgrounds

Crosstown Elementary, located next to the busy Andy Livingstone Park, lacks a physical barrier separating the playground from the surrounding public space. Parents say this has led to repeated incidents where children are exposed to dangerous or traumatic situations during the school day.

A review from vancouverplaygrounds.com urges parents not to bring their children to the playground, saying "Bottom line, don’t come here. There’s too much broad daylight drug use, paraphernalia and risk of encountering an unpleasant situation. There are much better and safer places to play where you don’t have to potentially take your children near illicit drugs."

The Vancouver Police Department has reportedly responded to over 40 incidents in the park just this year. However, the VPD says that while the number of calls are high, they are typically for "low level crimes."

Andy Livingstone Park. Photo: Community Action Initiative.

Parents report encountering drug paraphernalia, unconscious individuals, and off-leash dogs just steps from where children play. Perhaps one of the most disturbing incidents was one cited by the Parent Advisory Council (PAC), which stated that "A deceased body wasn't even completely tented off in the park before school hours last month — children saw it on their walk to school."

The PAC has been advocating for changes, including the installation of fencing, clearer signage, and increased adult supervision during outdoor breaks. They say they’ve brought these suggestions to local representatives and city officials multiple times but have seen little progress.

Officials from the Vancouver School Board say they are working with community agencies to maintain a safe and inclusive environment, but many parents believe that stronger action is overdue.

As concerns continue to grow, families are urging city and school officials to take decisive steps to protect the students and staff at the school.